Fuel-feeding device for vehicles and airplanes



W. H.. MUZZY. FUEL FEEDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES AND AIRPLANES.

APPLlCATlON FILED DEC. 13, 1917.

1,338,323. .-Papentd Apr. 27, 1920.,-

WITNESSES INVENTOR.

UNITED sT Parana: OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MUZZY,- F CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART-WARNERSPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFVIRGINIA.

FUEL-FEEDING DEVICE non VEHICLES Ann YAIRPLANIES.

Specification of Letters ]?atent.. fPatented Apr; 27, 1920.

Application filed Ilecember 13, 1917. Serial No. 206,902. T"

.To all whomz't may concern .5

' a citizen of theIInited States, residing at for Vehicles andAirplanes, of which Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have'invented certain new and use ful improvementsinFuel-Feeding DeIviees c eclare the following to be a .-full,- clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in fuel feeding systems forautomobiles or the like and has more particular relation .toimprovements in devices of the character shown and described in myco-pending application Ser. No. 206385.for' patent filed on the 10th dayof December, 1917 One of the several objects of the invention is toprovide improved means in vacuum systems of the type mentioned forintermittently pumping gasolene from the rear main tank to an elevatedtank and then admitting atmospheric pressure to the elevatedtank' toallow the gasolene to descend and be fed to the carbureter of theengine. Another object of .the invention is to provide'improved meansfor cutting off the feed of gasolene from the main tank .to .theelevated tank when the latter is filled to its maximum level and at thesame time opening the elevated tank to atmospheric air pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide means fora correlatedoperation of parts for stopping the feed of gasoleneto an el'evatedtank.and admitting atmospheric pressure thereto. I I Another object of theinvention 1sto ut1- lize the moving volume of fuel between the main tankand the elevated tank to impart a ram like blow to a closing out off andthus snap an atmosphericvalve off its seat against the suctionofthetank, and admit atmospheric pressureto' the tank as th'e cut offcloses.-- f

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved float andconnections in a vacuum tank for governing, without operating, a cut offvalve and an atmospheric In carrying these and other objects of theinvention into effect I utilize certain con- I structions, combinationsand arrangements of parts all of which will be hereinafter moreparticularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification; Figure1 represents a central vertical section through a vacuum fuel feedingtank and connections embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 represents'a detail front elevation of the flap valve.

In general terms the invention may be said to operate by the vacuumcreated in the manifold of the engine of the machine and which istransferred to my tank to draw the gasolene from a relatively low mainfuel tank in intermittent pumping operations as described in mysaidco-pending application and also described in my Patents No. 1,201,- 077issued Oct. 10, 1916, and No. 1,222,235, issued Apr. 10,1917, andreference is made to these patents for any detail description-of thegeneral operation of tanks ofthistype.

After being drawn into the elevated tank the gasolene is let downintermittently into a lower compartment where itis held underatmospheric pressure and fed to the carbureter of the engine by gravity.

In the aforesaid drawings -1 chamber, 3- the sealing cover of the same,4

cage.

The-tank 1 is of cylindrical construction and is" providedat its lowerend with a fitting; 34 for attachment of the pipe leading tofthecarburetor and adrain cook 35 for drawing ofl sediment and water. Theupper end of the tank-is formed with an outwardly turned flange, whichis secured to a ring 30 having an air vent passage 27 foradmittingtairto the tank 1, The tank 2 at its upper end is also providedwith a similar flange which rests upon the flange-of the tank 1, theparts allbeing secured together 7 represents theouter tank or shell,2the vacuum tank or by screws 28, with a packing washer 29 of corkinterposed between the flange of the tank 2 and the top 3. The tank 2 isthus closed air tight. v

The contents of the tank 2 are discharged by gravity through a pipe 31and a flap valve 32 into the tank 1, the valve 32 being held in positionon its seat by headed screws with which the lever contacts when movingin opposite directions. The valve cage 6 screws into the plate 3 and isformed with a-valve seat 22 upon which the valve 8 seats when in itslower positlon and thus prevents any further gasolene passing into thechamber 2. A strainer 21 is secured in the cage 6 by an attaching nut 37which also forms the attaching member for the pipe which connects it tothe main supply tank.

The atmospheric valve 9 is carried by a stem 10 having an elongated slot12 through which a pin 11, mounted on the lever 17, pro-v jects. The"alve 9 seats upon a valve seat formed in the lower end ofthe cage 5,which latter is screwed into the top 3. The valve 9 normally tends tomove upward under the impulse of a coil spring which connects it to anadjusting screw 24 mounted in a disk 23 which loosely sets upon the topaction which is like ahammer stroke and can "of the cage. By this meansthe disk 23 may be rotated andthe tension of the spring 25 adjustedwithout rotating the valve 9. Ap-

ertures 26 are formed in the'cage'5 to permit the freepasSage of air.

The attachment 4wl1ich is suitably connected to the manifold oftheengine is pro- 1 vided with a reducing port 16 of much less area thanthe port covered and uncovered I v {is deliyered it will; be l lderstoo'd. that lthfi" pin 11 moves freely anddu-ickly"iii' thefslot bythe valve 9. V

The operation of the parts is as follows:

When the float 14 is in its lower position the .pin 11' contacting withthe lower. wall of the slot 12 drawsthe valve 9 down upon its seatagainst the tension of the spring 25 and 'the'suction in the chamber 2holds it there after the float, rises. As the gasolene is drawn from themain tank into the tank 2through' the cage 6 the'float 14 rises andgradually draws the valve 8 downward until the maximum level has beenreached when the valve 8 will have been brought into such a position'asto fall under the influence of the suction in the chamber2 a'nd'theimpact of the fuel seeking to enter the chain her 2 with the result thatthe valve-will be forced down upon its seat with a ram like snappingaction altogether independent of the movement of the float 14. Asamatter of fact 'the float is partly lifted by this be distinctly heardoutside ofthe tank. I

stroke to snap the valve 9 off of its seat against the vacuum suction inthe chamber 2. A fter the valve 1S off its seat it is drawn,

upward out of the influence of the suction by the spring 25 and the airpassing in through the cage relieves the vacuum in the chamber 2- andallows the fuel therein to flow through the pipe 31 into thetank '1. Thevalve 9 is permitted to spring upward independently because of the slotand pin connection 11 and 12. As the float 14 descends the valve 9 isgradually drawn downward until it again seats under the action of theair passing'into the chamber 2 and is held on its seat by this suctionwhen the float" again rises, when the above action is again repeated.\Vhen the tank becomes fullthe float 14 remains in its upper positionuntil suff cient gasolene has been used to cause the-tank to againresume its pumplng operations.

l leretofore floats have been used for opening. atmospheric valves invacuum tanks of the class herein describechsuch floatseither being ofsufficient size to force the valves off theirseats because of thebuoyancy of the float, or to put spring devices under tension forsnapping the valves off their seats, but as far as applicant is aware heis the first to employ either the suction itself or the ram like actionof the moving fuel to disengage an atmospheric valve from its seatagainst the operation of such suction. It will of' course he understoodthat while I have shown a certain lever arrangement between theftwovalves, the fulcrum of the lever may be moved as desired so that thesuction on the valve 8 would always give sufficient of a hammer blow onthe valve stem 10 to disengage atmospheric valve 9 from its seat andallow it to snap'upwardhen the [blow not of sufficient size-by itself toforce the valve 9 open by straightpressurmand the only way this valvecould be opened is by the hammer blow delivered to it from the valve 8through the lever'17. The float may 'bethussaid to set ,the parts foroperation,

but the real action is effected by the Suctionf on the valve 8 and theimpact. of the fuel on this valve. This last is no slight force as ithas back of it allthe movingliquid the pipe connecting themain tank tothe cage 6.

p I do not wish to limit myself to any spe-. eific mechanism forutilizing the suction in the tank or the impact of the moving fluids foraccomplishing the desired result as I- be lieve I am the first toutilize such elements in this way. 1

out being built upnfrom cemented laminations which separate under thedisintegrat ing influences of the gasoline.

The whole operation 1s slmple and effec tiveand not subject to anydisarrangement from road'jars of thevmachine.

The operation of the valve 8 it will be .observed prevents any overflowof the chamber 2 either from overpumping or because of the main tankbeing moved to an elevation above the vacuum tank as when descending asteep grade, or if employed on an air-plane when a vol-plane is beingmade.

It willalso be understood that the invention is notlimited to use ofautomobiles as it can equally well be employed on air planes, boats orany other vehicles.

It will be understoodthat the valves 8 and 9 counterbalance each otheras far as atmospheric pressure is involved as the pres-.

sure is practically the same whether it is direct from the air ontovalve 9 or indirectly on the valve 8 througli'the gasolene entering Ithe inlet port. The'valve -9 is thus practically relieved of theatmospheric pressure which holds it closed when the valve 8 approachesits seat and falls directly under the influence of the vacuum in thevacuum I tion with an elevated tank having'a vacuum chamber and a supplychamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum chamber,

Ia supply pipe also connected to the vacuum chamber, a cut-off for thesupply pipe; an

atmospheric valve operating in conjunction with the cut-0E,andconnectlons between the atmospheric .valve and the'cut-ofi', saidvalve, cut-off and connections being arranged to counterbalance theatmosph'erlc pressure on sa1d valve and cut-off.

2. In a fuel feeding system, the combina tion with an elevated tankhaving a vacuum chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuumchamber, a fuel supply pipe also connected with the vacuum chamber;means exposed to atmospheric pressure for cutting off the fuel supply,and devices operated by the atmospheric pressure transmitted throughsaid means for opening the chamber to the atmosphere;

3. In fuel feeding system the combina tion with an elevated tank havinga vacuum r chamber, a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum chamber, afuel supply pipe also connected to the vacuum chamber, a cut off for thefuel supply, an atmospheric valve operated for opening by the closingmovement of the cut-off, and. a float connected with the cut-off forinitiating said closing movement. I V

4. In a fuel feeding system the combination with an elevated tank havinga vacuum chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum chamber, afuel supply pipe also connected to the vacuum chamber, a, cut off forthe fuel supply operated by the moving fuel and an atmospheric valveoperated in closing direction by the cut-off.

Infa fuel feeding systemthe combination with an elevated tank having avacuum chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum chamber, a fuelsupply pipe also I connected to the vacuum chamber, a cut off for thefuel supply position for being closed by atmospheric pressure and'anatmospheric valve operate for opening by the closing movement of thecut-off. I V

6. In a fuel feeding system the combination with an elevated tank havinga vacuum chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuumchamber, a'fuel supply pipe also connected to the vacuum chamber, a cut-off valvefor the fuel supply closin in the direction of the inward flow of t efuel, an atmospheric valve operated by the cut-off valve, and, afloatin'the vacuum chamber for bringing the cut-off valve into theactive path of' the fuel whereby it is snapped closed.

7 In a fuel feeding systemthe'combination with an elevated tank having avacuum chamber and a supply chamber, of a valve between the twochambers, a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum chamber,a fuel supplypipe also connected to the vacuum chamber, a cut-ofi' valve for thesupply pipe, an atmospheric valve for the vacuum chamber,

operated for opening by the closing movement of the cut-off valve, andmeans for initiating said closing movement of the cut off valve by therise of the liquid to a.-predetermined high level in the vacuum chamber.

8. In a fuel feeding system the combination with an elevated tank havinga vacuum chamber and a'supply chamber, of a valve between the twochambers, a vacuum pipe connected to the vacuum chamber, a fuel supplypipe also connected to the vacuum chamber, a cut-off for the supply pipepositioned for being closed by the inflow; an atmosphere inlet valve forthe vacuum chamber; devlces loosely connecting the cut-off and theatmosphere inlet valve for opening vthe latter by the closing movementof the former, whereby the cutoff-moves through a limited distance andthe moving parts ac quire momentum before the atmosphere inlet valve isattacked by said movement for opening it, and a hammer blow is thusdebetween the two chambers, a vacuum pipe j connected to the vacuumchamber, a supply pipe also connected to the vacuum chamber,

a cut-off valve for the supply pipe, an at mosphere valve operated byconnections from the cut-off valve; means for lost mo-. t1on in saidconnectlons, means for moving the atmosphere inlet valve for openingthrough the range of said lost motion, the cut-ofl' valve being adaptedto be seated by ment; the operating connections between the cut-offvalve and the atmosphere inlet valve causing a lost motion connectionwith the atmosphere inlet valve; and means for initiating said seatingmovement of the cut-off valve operating Within the range of said lastmentioned lost motion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

VILLIAM H. MUZZY; lVitnesses v i E. R. LUoAs;

J. A. MURPHY.

means for initiating such seating move-

